Boulder Dam (Warner Bros.) (1936)

Lp Pek Publicity D A M Patricia Ellis sings and dances, in addition to turning a fugitive from justice into a hero in “Boulder Dam,” the amazing drama Warner Bros. have filmed around the greatest wonder ever wrought by man. The picture, filled with sensational thrills, will open at the Wee ahs Se the UNVCUETO OM s et ate ne é Mat No. 201—20c Pat Ellis Sings In Saloon Seene in *“‘Boulder Dam’”’ Leading Lady Hopes Some Day She Will Be the Star of an All-Musical Film When Warner Bros. made the first talking picture version of ‘‘Harold Teen’’ they also made an important talent discovery. They found out that Patricia Ellis could sing. The blonde young actress, who has since become one of Hollywood’s best known leading women, had appeared in several pictures prior to the ‘‘Harold Teen’’ production, but her vocal chords had been used only for the usual dialogue sequences. When, much to everyone’s surprise, she suddenly burst out into song between scenes of the picture, it was immediately decided that a song would have to be written for her to sing in a later sequence. The song was written and Patricia rehearsed it before the microphone. The song writers immediately went back to their office and wrote another. Both of them were used in the production, and Patricia’s stock as a singer went up several points overnight. Today, due to the actress’ talents in the vocal line, it is seldom that she is seen in a picture in which she does not sing a song or two during the course of action. In “Freshman Love,” she had two song numbers, especially written for her. The day she finished “Freshman Love” she began work as the leading lady in “Boulder Dam,” which comes to pliers naa op theatrewontyoecn st She found that two new songs were also awaiting her in that script. This latest picture gives the young actress the kind of role she likes best, that of a specialty singer. Patricia says she can really “let herself out”? when she is in a part in which she is legitimately supposed to sing. Songs, which are incidental to the plot as is the case in some pictures, never seem to ring as true to the actress as do vocal numbers which can be warbled as a part of the actual plot. Miss Ellis’ role in “Boulder Dam” is that of a performer in a Las Vegas night club. The young actress, who is still in her ’teens, hopes to be starred in an all-musical production sometime in the near future. Inasmuch as she is an accomplished dancer in addition to being a songstress and a recognized leading lady, it is not hard to visualize Patricia in such a role. “Boulder Dam” is a dynamic drama of a little dancing girl who redeems a shirker and fugitive from justice through love. Besides Miss Ellis the cast includes Ross Alexander, Lyle Talbot, Henry O’Neill, Eddie Acuff, Egon Brecher and _ scores of others. Frank MeDonald directed the picture from the screen play by Sy Bartlett and Ralph Block, based on a. story by Don M. Templin. Music and lyrics are by Allie Wrubel and Mort Dixon. Wild Gambling Seenes In Film Very Realistic Due to the fact that several technical experts were employed, the Las Vegas gambling house scenes photographed for “Boulder Dam,” the Warner Bros. picture, which comes to the ............ EiGatPOnO Migs ciebes oo: ato sowere<correct to the last poker chip. During the construction of Boulder Dam, the town of Las Vegas, Nevada, was admittedly a eross between the rip-roaring town of Tombstone, Arizona, during its heyday, and the famous casino at Monte Carlo. Gambling was “wide open,” and the various clubs catering to dam workers were nearly always filled to capacity. Inasmuch as the picture has Boulder Dam as its background, several of the more important sequences take place in a replica of one of these clubs. Included in the list of extra men and bit players obtained for the picture were fourteen men who held jobs in Las Vegas during the construction on the dam. Several of these men were “sealers,” daredevil workmen who drill into the high cliffs with power drills. Others were croupiers and faro dealers in two of the most prominent gambling houses. All these men acted as voluntary technical advisors on the picture, and their “tips” to Director Frank MacDonald were of great assistance in the difficult sequences relating to gambling as it is practiced in a rough and ready construction town. The most poular chance games among the workers, according to the “technicians,” were Faro, Low Ball, Chuck-A-Luck, Blackjack, Stud and Draw Poker, Keeno, Craps and Roulette. The home lives of these workers is shown, ag is their philosophy in life. Their rough and ready pleasures, their picturesque speech, their willingness to battle, not only each other, but death itself, is clearly brought out in the picture. “Boulder Dam” is a drama of love and heroism based on the story by Dan W. Templin. The cast includes Ross Alexander, Patricia Ellis, Lyle Talbot, Henry O’Neill, Eddie Acuff, Egon Brecher and scores of others. The screen play is by Sy Bartlett and Ralph Block. Lyle Talbot Hero or villain roles are all the same to Lyle Talbot—he’s a star at either. In “Boulder Dam,” which is now thrilling all SHECLOLOTS: Cb. thee = eee ee Theatre, he has the “heavy” role opposite Ross Alexander and Patricia Ellis. Mat No. 103—10c Defies Death Ross Alexander escapes from the police, grapples with death, and plays with dynamite only to surrender to a pair of blue eyes and a warm heart in “Boulder Dam,’ Warner Bros. amazing human drama now showing at the .~ Pheatre. Mat No. 105—10c Henry O’Neill In Role Which Was His Former Job When Warner Bros. assigned Henry O’Neill to a featured role of a construction boss in “Boulder Dam,” the Warner Bros. picture which comes to the.... TORU (ONS © yr cues , they gave him—a part. which -O’Neill has played many times in actual life. O’Neill began construction work as soon as he had finished his schooling in Orange, New Jersey. Blue prints and architect’s sketches were his hobby, and it was not long before he became construction foreman on several large building projects. As a sideline he owned and operated a lumber yard in the vicinity of Orange. Later, he took the job of construction boss for Charles Ingersoll, the millionaire watch maker, who was enlarging his plant at Maplewood, New Jersey. Through all his years as an actor on the legitimate stage and in motion pictures, O’Neill has held a secret ambition to slip away from the footlights and handle just one more construc-. tion job. He realized that job, pictorially speaking, in “Boulder Dam,” in which he is seen as construction boss of the entire Boulder Dam project. The picture is a thrilling drama of a man at odds with the world who fights his way back to the realities of life and love through a remarkable heroism. Besides O’Neill the cast includes Ross Alexander, Patricia Ellis, Lyle Talbot, Eddie Acuff, Egon Brecher and scores of others. Frank McDonald directed. Pat Ellis Sings Two Songs in New Film Patricia Ellis sings two song numbers in her role of a night club entertainer in “Boulder Dam,” Warner Bros. picture which comes‘to the............ Rea biG” ON tee an, sr uinate oe The songs are “My Long Gone Baby Came Home,” and “Toddlin? Along With You.” Both were written by Mort Dixon and Allie Wrubel. Miss Ellis plays opposite Ross Alexander. Others in the east inelude Lyle Talbot, Eddie Acuff, Egon Brecher and Henry O’Neill. Frank McDonald directed. Ross Alexander Uses No Make-Up In Screen Work Ross Alexander, who has his first leading film role in the Warner Bros. picture, “Boulder Dam,” which comes to the ......... : TN GAtTE ROM tr. cota. ee ces , is one of the few motion picture players who uses no make-up before the camera. According to make-up experts at the Warner Bros. studios, Alexander is one of those rare types who can photograph to best advantage without an ounce of make-up of any kind. Several leading male stars use very little make-up, perhaps. only an eyebrow pencil or a touch of maseara, but Alexander needs none of these at any time. When the actor first began motion picture work after a career on the New York stage, cosmeticians found that make-up took away the strong character that is predominant in his face. Alexander considers himself quite lucky in this respect. The fact that he does not have to spend several hours a day in the make-up chair before beginning the day’s work gives him those additional hours of morning sleep which is seldom enjoyed by the average leading man in motion picture work. “Boulder Dam” is a drama of love and heroism based on a story by Dan M. Templin. Besides Alexander, the cast includes Patricia Ellis, Lyle Talbot, Henry O'Neill, Eddie Acuff, Egon Brecher and scores of others. Frank MacDonald directed the picture from the screen play by Sy Bartlett and Ralph Block. Musie and lyrics are by Allie Wrubel and. Mort Dixon. Real Accident At Boulder Dam. Shown in Film A thrilling and disastrous accident which actually took place during the construction of Boulder Dam was filmed as the climax to a sequence in “Boulder Dam,” the Warner Bros. picture, with the dam as its background, which comes-to the: ...:....7.. DO BLTEs ONE ie pu) icc .cerelner ° The new sequence was written into the seript after Director Frank McDonald had received a first-hand account of the details from Kay “Red” Russell, one of the daredevil “scalers” formerly employed at the dam and now appearing in a character bit in the film. The sequence shows the heroism of several dam workmen in their efforts to curtail the progress of a runaway dynamite truck, tearing down hill at breakneck speed after the driver had lost control of the breaks... According to Russell, accidents of this nature occurred five times during the course of the dam/’s construction. Two or three men were killed, and several injured in their attempts to gain control of the runaway trucks. Ross Alexander, playing his first leading screen role, will be seen as one of the workmen who manages to save a truck load of dynamite in “Boulder Dam.” The picture is a drama of love and heroism based on the story by Dan M. Templin. Besides A1exander the east includes Patricia Ellis, Lyle Talbot, Henry O’Neill, Eddie Acuff, Egon Brecher and scores of others. Frank McDonald directed the picture from the screen play by Sy Bartlett and Ralph Block. Musie and lyrics are by Allie Wrubel and Mort Dixon. Page Five